We
are a tax exempt and non-profit charitable organization, providing a
centre for children and adolescents with various disabilities. Our aim
is to help them maximize their full potential and achieve an
independent, fulfilled life.

The
Centre allows the special children access to a meaningful education and
vocational training. It is run and managed by a parent-steering
committee with the assistance of volunteers, teachers and a team of
operational staff.

The
Centre aims to provide a holistic programme and training not only for
the children, but also for the parents, families and caregivers. We aim
to teach the special children living skills; to stimulate their
faculties; to nurture each one's ability to progress further; to
advance their educational needs; to provide them with vocational
training and to expose them to sports, the arts and to society.

The
Centre also invites participation from the local and expatriate
community to volunteer their time and resources so that these children
will be able to learn to integrate with society.

Our
Centre was established in June 1999 with 3 students and has now grown
to 45 students, their ages ranging from three to thirty-five years.
Their disabilities range from Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy,
Global Delay, Prader Willi Syndrome, Epilepsy to slow learners. There
are always more on our waiting list. We have no more space to include
them and are short of teaching staff.

Established
centres – private and government schools – could not cater to the needs
of such children like Amanda, Christine Wong's daughter, who has Down
syndrome. This was later found to be the common finding with other
families with special children at the Centre.

Christine,
founder of the Centre realised that the Government school's system was
not suitable for her needs. Amanda at the age of 6 was still not toilet
trained and would run away from school at every opportunity. In the
mean time, Amanda received numerous therapies from different
specialists at various places. It was through discussions with
therapists and other mothers in similar situations that Christine and
two of her friends decided to start this Centre.

These three friends had a meeting with officers from the Welfare
Ministry who encouraged them with their ideas. In June 1999, SCSOA was
born, and with it are the three first children – Amanda, Wei Yuen and
Jun Ken.

The
Centre aims to provide a holistic programme and training, not only for
the children, but also for their parents, families and caregivers.
Through these programmes, the Centre also invites participation from
the local community and public at large to volunteer their time and
resources so that these children can learn to integrate into society.

Our goal for the future is to be in A PLACE OF OUR OWN,
LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE EVER
INCREASING NUMBER OF SPECIAL CHILDREN.

Our
new home will be equipped with facilities for the disabled. Rooms will
be furnished appropriately for different therapies and training - a Snoezerland, Physiotherapy, and Patterning to name a few.

The
Centre is currently funded by contributions from some parents, public
donations and fund raising activities. Needless to say, WE ARE IN DIRE
NEED OF HELP, not only financially but in our desperate search for:

a piece of land to build on or

any existing building on a sizeable plot to allow for future expansion.

Our long term goals:

To be a holistic Centre providing for the needs of these special children and adults throughout their lives.

The
Centre has opened a whole new world of opportunities for children and
young adults who could not attend regular schools but need training all
the same so that their potential can be maximised.

Through the Centre's early intervention programme and living skills
training, amongst other therapies, the Centre inevitably creates “jobs”
for volunteers and those interested in this field. For those whose
lives are dedicated to service, the Centre provides an avenue for
people to channel their energy positively.

In
the future, the Centre will also help babies receive early intervention
programmes so that their disabilities are minimised. The babies would
come in for an hour a week where parents will also be trained to
continue the exercises at home.

We
always welcome volunteers. Depending on what their interests and
talents are in addition to the time they have to spare, voluntary work
at this Centre can be seen in the following way:

Those who like to work with disabled children can read, feed and change
them while they are at the Centre. These volunteers can also help to
ferry the children to their therapies like swimming and horseback
riding for the disabled. Help is also needed during field trips such as
a visit to the zoo or the science centre, making sure that the children
are safe, and helping them use public facilities.

Those
who prefer not to work with disabled children can come in a few times a
week doing handicraft that the Centre will sell at festive bazaars at
certain times of the year. They can also help out whenever the Centre
needs extra hands, especially during festivals.

There are also volunteers who spend their time helping the Centre on
project basis like creating awareness campaigns, fund-raising, and
networking with various groups to further assist the Centre.

A
group of volunteers have created the “Friends of the SCSOA” body, which
meets regularly to discuss the present and the future needs of the
Centre and the role of the Friends of the Society in this effort.